Quad Pod slated to perform at festival

Two other bands, all-you-can-eat menu also expected for event

John Morrison and his band Quad Pod will be one of three bands performing at the 20th annual Harvest Festival, hosted by the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 3 at the Sunset Beach Resort in Kiptopeke.

ONANCOCK -- A good meal and great music are a perfect combination. John Morrison -- or Johnny Mo as most on the Shore call him -- knows how to give his customers both.

This year John and his band Quad Pod will be one of three bands performing at the 20th annual Harvest Festival, hosted by the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 3 at the Sunset Beach Resort in Kiptopeke.

Cooking and music came into John's life when he was 13. First he picked up a fry pan, and then the guitar. He hasn't put either of them down since. Upon graduating from Johnson and Wales Culinary School in 1995, John pursued his passion in the kitchen to the delight of customers in Princeton, N.J., and Rockville, Md.

After visiting his folks in their new home on the Shore, John moved his family, stockpot and chopping block across the Bay; opening his first restaurant outside of Onancock in 2002. Their cafe opened in Accomac in 2004.

When the opportunity to take over the restaurant in the Hopkins and Brothers store on the wharf in Onancock became available in 2005, John and his family jumped right on it. Now Mallards serves both visitors and natives seven days a week year-round.

Likewise, Johnny Mo never missed a beat with his music. When he wanted to start a band here, John went onto Swap Shop on WESR to find other musicians. Eventually, his band Quad Pod was formed and now they regularly perform at gigs all over the Shore.

The Morrison Family were part of Harvest Festival for the first time last year. When asked why he heeded the call to participate in Harvest Festival 2011, John said, "We think it will be a lot of fun to do and I'm glad to do it if it will help the Chamber."

The 20th annual Harvest Festival, hosted by the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce, will be held Oct. 3 at the Sunset Beach Resort in Kiptopeke. The all-you-can-eat menu will include steamed clams and raw oysters from the Shore's own Cherrystone Aqua Farms in Cheriton, fried flounder, shrimp from Island House Restaurant, crab cake "sliders" from Exmore Diner and clam chowder made by Wec Terry of H.M. Terry Brothers in Willis Wharf.

There will also be sweet potato pie, barbecue, fries and more. Food will be served from noon-4 p.m. Water and soft drinks are included. Beer and local wine are available at an additional fee.

Johnny Mo has lined up two other bands in addition to Quad Pod. The Waterfront is another Shore favorite and Boot Rooster from Chesapeake will be there to top off the festival for everyone until 5 p.m.

Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased at the Chamber in Melfa, outlets on the Shore and online at www.esvachamber.org. For more information and for a complete list of ticket outlets call, the Chamber at 757-787-2460 or email infor@esvachamber.org.